Top 3 Chokes for Grouse Hunting In Forested Habitat

The ability to hit a fast-moving bird is the most crucial aspect of grouse hunting, but having the right choke in your shotgun when the bird finally flushes is a close second.

Choosing a choke for grouse hunting needs to account for distance and shot size to be effective. Lead #7.5 shot and steel #6’s are popular grouse hunting shotshell loads, so finding a choke that patterns this ammo well is critical for success in the field.

In this guide, we’ll look at the three choke tubes that you should consider for hunting grouse and why they’re so popular for hunting in Aspen woodlands and other forested habitat.

Best Choke Tubes for Grouse Hunting

These are the three chokes for grouse that you should consider that can deliver consistent results with lead and steel shot. As always, patterning your shotgun is extremely important to find out which choke tubes and ammo work best out of it.

1) Carlson’s Modified Choke Tube

Carlson’s is one of the most trusted choke tube brands in the industry and their extended modified choke is perfect for grouse hunting. It delivers a dense pattern out to 35 yards with lead #7.5’s and makes for a versatile all-around choke tube for most situations.

The most popular ways to hunt grouse are spot and stalk or with a pointer where shot ranges can vary widely. The Carlson’s modified can handle long flushing shots, without having to compromise on the close shots within 20 yards. This is the TOP pick.

Carlson's Modified Choke Tube - Extended

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MADE IN THE USA: All our Carlson's Choke...

2) Carlson’s White Wing Dove Choke

The White Wing choke by Carlson’s is another option for added range in high winds or days the birds are flying high or flushing long. This choke comes in Improved Modified and paired with 6 shot steel is a good combo for shots to 40 yards.

The ideal setup for this choke is habitat that is more open, hillsides with little cover, and areas with a mix of brush lines where the birds may see you coming from further off. If you already have good luck with Carlson’s chokes in other sizes, check out this tighter IM choke. This is the pick for MAX range.

Carlson's Long Range White Wing Dove Choke - Extended

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Our White Wing Dove choke is...
For all ranges, when hunting...
Available in Decoy (LM) or...
These chokes can handle steel,...

3) Browning Improved Cylinder Choke

Browning manufactures their own extended choke tubes from cylinder all the way to full, and the modfied (0.715″) and improved cylinder (0.720″) are great choices for medium range grouse hunting on wild birds. You could even go up to a full choke if needed if the terrain you are hunting is open, and the shots will be further away. If you have a Browning shotgun that accepts Invector +, this is the choke to get.

Browning Invector Plus Choke Tube - IC Choke

Constructed of highly polished, 17-4...
Available in constrictions ranging from...
Knurled portion extends beyond the...
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Produces excellent patterns with...

Why a modified choke works best for Grouse Hunting

Modified chokes are the middle ground of choke diameters (0.705”) and because of this are versatile in many different hunting situations. Chokes in modified can handle a grouse flushing close as well as long fast-moving passing shots overhead.

Modified choke tubes work especially well with #7.5 lead shot and it’s not uncommon to pattern this choke and ammo combination and receive 80% coverage in a 30 inch circle at 30 yards. Steel shot also works well with a modified choke tube like the Carlson’s extended choke mentioned above.

Hunting wild grouse vs pen raised birds

Some States are now releasing pen rasied birds, whereas wild grouse are a lot harder to hunt. Your choke setup will likely need to be tailored to which of these types of grouse you will be hunting.

Pen raised or released birds tend to be slow and flush late. This means most of your shots are going to be within 20-25 yards where an Improved Cylinder (0.716”) which opens the shot up quicker will be the top choice.

For wild grouse, the Modified (0.705”) or Improved Modified (0.695”) are the top choices that will keep your pattern together for shots between 30 and 40 yards.

Choke Tubes and Ranges for Grouse

Improved Cylinder (10-20 yards) – Up close flushing shots
Modified (20-40 yards) – Flushing and long range flushing shots
Improved Modified (35-45 yards) – Long range flushing shots
Full Choke (40-60 yards) – High flying birds over 40 yards

The chart above shows the recommended choke tube and range in yards for grouse hunting. Modified is the best choke for typical grouse hunting shots that include close flushes and bird exiting scenarios. Improved cylinder is the best for close flushing shots just as the grouse rises. Improved modified (IM) and full chokes are best for longer range shots after the bird is exiting and gained full momentum.

High flying Grouse

A high flying grouse is any bird over 35 yards. High flying grouse usually flush somewhere out of sight, but end up right over you at a high rate of speed. They can be one of the most challenging shots in upland bird hunting.

Choke and ammo combinations for these high flying birds need to be able to hold together beyond 35 yards. A full choke can even be a viable choke size in this situation. Increasing shot size to lead #6’s or Steel #3’s is also warranted.

grouse hunting requires medium range choke tubes that work well with both steel and lead shot.

Grouse Hunting Field Tips

Get a set of improved cylinder, modified, and improved modified chokes
This will let you switch chokes as conditions change
Lead #7.5’s and an IC choke tube work well on pen raised birds
Keep shots below 50 yards, know your ammo and choke limitations
A full choke may be needed for those days where birds are flushing prematurely
Wind days, especially those with cross winds, you may need to up your pellet size
Pattern your shotgun to find out what choke and ammo work best
If using a tight choke, allow a bird flushing close to get distance before shooting

Modified choke tubes can take a lot of the guess work out of grouse hunting. They usually work well with most ammo and won’t damage the birds at close ranges.

Having a set of choke tubes in your hunting vest or backpack is the best option that works well for changing conditions. You can tailor your setup to how grouse are responding while in the field and changing a choke only takes seconds with a good choke wrench.

What to expect

When it comes to choosing the right choke tube for Grouse Hunting, Carlson’s Modified choke stands out from its competitors. The Carlson’s Modified choke is engineered with a unique design that provides consistent and even shot patterns, resulting in better accuracy and a higher precision. Unlike most of its competitors, the Modified choke ensures that the shot is evenly distributed, reducing the chances of having holes or gaps in your pattern. Overall, the Carlson’s Modified choke is a top performer, delivering outstanding results that set it apart from the competition.

Bottom Line

Grouse hunting requires a choke size geared toward the situation at hand. #7.5 lead shot and #6 steel shot are popular pellet sizes most grouse hunters use. Naturally, finding a choke tube that patterns these loads well is key to success in the field.

A modified choke such as the extended chokes that Carlson’s offers work well for an all-around grouse hunting choke tube out to 30 yards. Other chokes that excel for grouse hunting are the Carlson’s White Wing choke and the improved modified from Browning.

Hunting wild grouse or pen raised birds can help determine which choke size you may need. Shots on wild grouse tend to be longer where a modified or improved modified are best. Pen raised birds may only require an improved cylinder for shots inside 20 yards.

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